The Diamond Dukes finished the
2002 season with one of the most successful seasons in the history
of the program, with a record of 44-16. For the first time since
1995, the team was ranked by Baseball America, claiming the number
22 spot. Out of 286 teams, they also debuted at No. 26 by National
Collegiate Baseball and No. 25 by the Collegiate Baseball Writers'
Association.

The Dukes set numerous records
this season including the record for wins in a season, 44. The
record for most double plays was set at 67, and two homerun records
were also broken. The record for homeruns in a season was crushed
at 87, (previously 62), and a game-record eight homeruns, came
against Liberty.

"We did a lot of things this year,
I was very pleased," says head coach Spanky McFarland. "We always
try to set goals and this season we achieved most of those
goals."

The Dukes were the top-seed going
into the CAA Championships and ended up placing second. Eddie Kim
was the CAA Player of the Year and McFarland was the CAA Coach of
the Year. Kim finished the season with 99 hits, 74 RBIs and 24
doubles - each just one shy of a single-season record. Kim was also
named to the third team All-America by National Collegiate
Baseball. McFarland finished his fifth year at JMU with an overall
record of 152-117-2.

Third baseman, Brent Metheny, and
left-handed pitcher, Jared Doyle, were selected to the All-CAA
first team, chosen by the CAA's head baseball coaches. Selected to
the All-CAA Second Team were left-handed pitcher, Dan Meyer, and
second baseman, Mitch Rigsby.

Also for the first time since
1995, the Diamond Dukes received a bid to the NCAA regional
championships, which were held in Columbia, S.C. Their appearance
was only the sixth in the team's history. They went 1-2 at
regionals, defeating VCU, the CAA Champions, and losing twice to
UNC-Chapel Hill.

McFarland says he was happy with
their performance in South Carolina. "In the history of our
program, we have been to NCAA's three or four times, but never won
any games. This year we didn't just go, we actually
won."

With two pitchers, Meyer and
Doyle, being drafted in Major League Baseball's 2002 first-year
player draft, McFarland says, "we still have a nice crop of
pitchers in the fold." However, some roles will change, such as
relief pitchers becoming starters and back-up starters seeing more
playing time. "The number three, four and five starters are going
to have to step up," he adds.

The Diamond Dukes are expecting 11
freshmen next year. "It's a big class, but we anticipated losing
more in the draft," says McFarland, who hopes his seniors will "set
the stage" for the incoming class.

As for next season's outlook,
McFarland says he wants to build on this year's experience and
sustain their goals. "Every year we want to win CAA's, win 40 games
and go to NCAA's. Hopefully our experience this year will help
us."

Story by Janelle DiOrio
('03)

Photos by JMU Sports Media
Relations, the Macon Braves and the Lansing Lugnuts